If you know us, you know Nashville is our happy place. So, when our 1 year wedding anniversary rolled around, there was no question where we wanted to celebrate. We packed our bags, queued up our favorite road trip playlist, and set off for a weekend in Music City, just the two of us, ready to relive some of our favorite memories and make a few new ones.
Checking In: Omni Nashville & Sweet Surprises
We kicked things off by checking in at the Omni Nashville. The hotel itself is gorgeous-sleek, modern, and right in the heart of downtown. I’ll admit, part of the draw was knowing Casey Neistat had stayed here (yes, I’m a nerd), but the rooftop pool didn’t hurt either! Our room was spacious and comfortable, and we couldn’t wait to settle in.
Dinner that night was at Pomodoro East. I still dream about their truffle pizza with freshly shaved parmesan. It was the perfect indulgence to start our trip. Sadly, Pomodoro East is no longer there (it’s now Noko, which is on our list for next time!), but I’m so glad we got to experience it when we did.
Naturally, dessert had to be Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. If you haven’t had their gooey butter cake ice cream, you are missing out. It’s our go-to flavor, and honestly, it just tastes like celebration.
When we got back to our room, we were greeted by a surprise from the Omni staff. There was sparkling wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, and the sweetest handwritten card. It was such a thoughtful touch and made our anniversary night feel extra special.
Nashville Day Two: Surprises, Swimming, and a Candle Mishap
We woke up excited for breakfast at Kitchen Notes, the Omni’s own restaurant. The food was delicious and the perfect way to start the day. But the real surprise came after breakfast. When we got back to our room, Rich had a gift waiting for me: our wedding video and all the footage, sent by our amazing videographer. I was over the moon. Watching those moments together, reliving our wedding day, was honestly one of the most romantic surprises ever.
With hearts full, we decided to hit the rooftop pool for a swim. There’s just something about swimming with a city skyline view that feels so luxurious.
Lunch was at Cafe Roze, which has this natural, communal vibe that is an extrovert’s dream. The food was fresh and flavorful, and it felt like a little oasis away from the city. And yes, we went back to Jeni’s for more ice cream. It was our anniversary, after all-no such thing as too much ice cream!
One of the highlights of the trip was making a candle together at Paddywax Candle Bar. We wanted something to commemorate our first year of marriage. Here’s a pro tip: don’t go rogue with the essential oils. We thought we’d make our candle extra fragrant by adding more than the recipe called for. Big mistake. That candle could clear a room! Seven years later, we still have it, barely burned, as a hilarious reminder of our “creativity.” As a rule follower, I suggest sometimes it’s really necessary to follow them.
Dinner that night was at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse. The place is stunning-jaw-dropping chandeliers and all the glitz. The food was…fine. Not the most memorable meal, but the server was incredibly kind and brought us cheesecake for our anniversary. He even took our picture at the booth which was beyond sweet. Sometimes, it’s the little gestures that stick with you.
Back at the hotel, it was time for a tradition: eating the top tier of our wedding cake. It was almost midnight, and we were cozied up in our room, unwrapping the cake and reminiscing about our wedding day. Rich said a sweet little prayer before we dug in, and honestly, the cake tasted even better than we remembered. It was such a sweet, quiet moment. It was for sure one of my favorite memories from the whole trip.
Music City Day Three: Brunch, Shopping, and Inspiration
We started our last day with brunch at Biscuit Love (because how can you go to Nashville and not have biscuits?). The food was amazing, as always.
We popped into Uncommon James for the first time. There were so many cute things! Then we spent the afternoon furniture browsing in Berry Hill. We’d just moved into a new home, so we were on the hunt for inspiration. We hit up Nadeau, Merridian Home Furnishings, Sears Outlet, and a few others. I love exploring local shops and getting ideas for how to make our space feel like us.
We wrapped things up with a quick stroll through the Mall at Green Hills and grabbed coffee at Frothy Monkey for the drive home. There’s something so comforting about sipping good coffee as you head back to reality, hearts full and memories made.
Looking Back
This trip was everything I hoped our first anniversary would be, romantic, fun, and full of little surprises. From thoughtful hotel gestures to watching our wedding video and making (overly fragrant) candles, every moment felt like a celebration of us. Nashville will always be our city, and I’m so grateful we got to mark this milestone there.
If you’ve got your own anniversary traditions or favorite Nashville spots, I’d love to hear about them! Here’s to many more years-and many more scoops of gooey butter cake ice cream.
Thanks for reading, friends! If you’re planning your own romantic Nashville getaway, let me know if you need any tips. Until next time!
